September 2011 - Issue 34

Fee For Service reporting

As you may be aware, changes are being made to the Department of Communities Business Information System (BIS) to align with the Growing Stronger implementation. Since we now are able to generate NMDS data directly from Fee For Service invoices, NMDS reporting obligations of funded providers have been reduced by excluding service user reporting for services funded via a Fee For Service arrangement. These are services for which you provide a Tax Invoice to the department, as opposed to grants which are paid in advance.

This change relates only to the service user/services received component of Fee For Service reporting. The service type outlet information, including staff hours, still needs to be completed in the usual manner. All other NMDS reporting remains the same.

The NMDS team will contact a sample of providers to talk with staff about any issues from this transition, to help us develop any required supporting documentation. If you have any questions regarding this change or require any assistance with your reporting, please contact your Project Officer (Regional Support).

Compliance targets achieved for 2010-11!

The DS NMDS Team would like to thank everybody who provided data for the 2010-11 collection year. Almost 100 per cent compliance was achieved, which was a fantastic effort!

Diary dates for 2011-12

Quarter	Start Date	End Date	Reference Week	Due Date
1	01-Jul-11	30-Sep-11	24-30 Sep 2011	15-Oct-11
2	01-Oct-11	31-Dec-11	25-31 Dec 2011	15-Jan-12
3	01-Jan-12	31-Mar-12	25-31 Mar 2012	15-Apr-12
4	01-Apr-12	30-Jun-12	24-30 Jun 2012	15-Jul-12

Other Arrangements for 2011-12

All providers who are currently funded through Disability and Community Care Services grants, please note that your existing NMDS reporting will continue for quarter one, 2011-12 (except for the change described above to Fee For Service reporting).

Please continue to report normally whether it is through ODC, other software systems or via paper.

Restrictive practices

The NMDS team is now responsible for the monthly collection of restrictive practices data from those providers who have service users that receive some form of restrictive practice.

Restrictive practices are:

• The containment or seclusion of an adult with an intellectual or cognitive disability;
• The use of chemical, mechanical or physical restraint on an adult with an intellectual or cognitive disability; or
• The restriction of access to an object by an adult with intellectual or cognitive disability.

The appropriate use of restrictive practices is legislated under the Disability Services Act (2006). It is monitored to ensure the practices are being used safely, properly, and to check that they are still necessary and effective.

Project Officers (Regional Support) will coordinate the collection of data from the relevant providers and are available to assist with the collection process.  Questions regarding the use of restrictive practices should however be directed to the appropriate Individual Response Leader (IRL) in your region, or to Sarah James (Senior Service Development Officer, Disability Practice Improvement).

If you believe you are administering restrictive practices under the Act but have not reported the details of those practices to the department, please contact your Project Officer (Regional Support) for further information on your reporting requirements.

Building Supportive Communities

Building Supportive Communities Service providers who have received Building Supportive Communities funding will have received their forms in the mail by now. Service providers using ODC will have to select the new outlet to enable them to report this funding.

Internet access

The URL for ODC is https://odc.disability.qld.gov.au. Earlier versions of the URL may not work. You may want to check your internet favourites or desktop shortcuts. Please ask your Project Officer (Regional Support) if you are unsure how to do this.

Internet updates

The DS NMDS site will be updated to reflect the 2011-12 reporting period. This site contains reporting requirements, frequently asked questions, resources, newsletters, a glossary of terms, links to disability statistics, contacts and general information on the DS NMDS. See under Help Available for contact details.

ODC users

Please note that Address Line 1 is not mandatory (Service User Question 8). This should only be used if the address needs to be separated. Examples:

Short address

Address Line 1:      Blank

Address Line 2:      21 Jump Street

Suburb:                Fortitude Valley

State:                  Qld

Postcode:             4006

Long address

Address Line 1:      Sunny Homestead

Address Line 2:      Drovers Lane

Suburb:                Tully         

State:                  QLD

Postcode              4854

Help available

Email enquiries:
cstdanmdshelp@communities.qld.gov.au

Online: Disability Services National Minimum Data Set (DS NMDS) website

Project Officers (Regional Support)

Kaye Fryer                    0403 209 436 M

kaye.fryer@communities.qld.gov.au

Brisbane region

Jan Backen                   0467 714 998 M

jan.backen@communties.qld.gov.au

Central region

Lindy O’Neill                  0434 604 844 M

melinda.oneill@communities.qld.gov.au

North Queensland/Far North Queensland regions

Jamasa Sayers              0403 209 437 M

jamasa.sayers@communities.qld.gov.au

North Coast/South East regions

Juanita White                0403 209 434 M

juanita.white3@communities.qld.gov.au

South West region